GOP data phobia inflates the 'right bubble'

Republicans and Democrats once argued how to solve a problem — now the GOP argues over facts of the problem ... denying the facts. GOP aversion to reality is reflected in the consistent avoidance of genuine truth, and when events make conservatives uncomfortable, there is an almost irresistible impulse on the right to just assure people that “uncomfortable” things really aren’t happening and “GOP played no part in the problem.”

Radical right-wingers shouldn’t confuse their therapeutic, conservative, alternative reality fantasy bubble for what actually happens — because events have facts attached. The conservative impulse is to assert uncomfortable facts just aren’t real, but eventually we really do have to deal with factual reality.

Concealment and/or creative transformation of reality into appetizing, palatable “pretend facts” may feel good, but it isn’t a basis for governing. In 2003, the Bush Labor Department stopped reporting on mass layoffs in manufacturing sector because it signaled deterioration of the Bush/Cheney economy. — Washington Post

In 2004, Department of Education reported traditional public school students were outperforming those in the Charter School Program, exposing possible flaws of the program. Bush/Cheney administration stopped collecting data in such detail. - New York Times

Bush/Cheney stopped publishing the annual terrorism report in 2005 when data showed an increase in worldwide terrorism, per State Department reporting. — Seattle Times

Rightwing closed loop, la-la-la, pretend it isn’t happening impulse might explain away unpalatable truth, but it isn’t based on evidentiary reality, nor does it change it. Democrat tax increases have historically been needed to pay for Republican deficits — Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. and George W. Bush all set new deficit spending records during their administrations.

“Deficits didn’t matter to Republicans when they created the $10 trillion of our $16 trillion debt.” (TPM) At the conclusion of Bill Clinton’s presidency, a January 2001 report by Congressional Budget Office projected America would be debt-free in 2006 and be $2.3 trillion “in the black” by 2011. Alas, Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest five percent added 12.5 percent to our annual deficit since 2001 and contributed more to grow the 2001-2010 debt than any policy since 2001 — runner-up is Iraq/Afghanistan wars. - Pew Trusts; CTJ

Conservatives asserted (Bush/Cheney) 2001/2003 tax cuts would cost $0, but now warn President Obama’s 2013 tax cuts for incomes under $400,000/450,000 will be damaging. Implementing more fiscally responsible governing, Obama signed a February 2010 law necessitating new spending be fully funded and a 2011 law outlining more than $2 trillion in debt-reduction over the next decade.

Obama offered hundreds of billions in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security cuts during 2011 budget negotiations — subsequently sabotaged by GOP obstructionists refusing to raise new tax revenues to help bridge budget shortfalls.

Reality is U.S. social/humane programs must not be slashed further while our Defense budget remains vastly bloated. “We’re in 130 countries with 900 bases around the world and we’re going broke [because of it].” — Ron Paul

Obama’s budget includes a “Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee,” affecting only large financial institutions, to raise $61 billion over the next decade to help offset TARP bailouts and Obama’s mortgage refinancing program costs. This is not a personal banking transaction and/or real estate sales fee.

Republican politicians too often create discord, finger-point about history, replay petty accusations rather than joining the conversation about HOW to solve our real problems. We repeatedly observe Republicans increasingly isolate themselves inside a media and tea party bubble, placing faith in rightwing columnists and pundits, refusing to hear or even consider neutral or contrasting points of view.

Conservatives, relying on faux-news celebrities, worshiping lubricated ‘talking points’ misinformation, are doomed to repeat election disappointments when low/no information voters spend their days going from conservative talk radio to conservative cable news to conservative blogs, refusing to understand the majority of Americans want teamwork in government and equality for all.

America needs compassionate conservatism and a balanced and democratic Congressional process beneficial to the majority. Conservatives — urge your Party to ‘work with’ rather than against — then imagine, for instance, what Obama-care could have been. Practicality should always trump ideology.